Madeline, as you know, has been very energetic so we thought it would be a great idea to get her signed up for Gymboree and swimming. So we first started off at 'My Gym' and she loved it. We did a few sessions that involved exploring swinging, balance beams, climbing swimming and LOTS of jumping. She was so happy and this was just the beginning of gymnastics. As you can see from the videos it was a lot of fun. Her favorite part was the trampoline. I was very tempted to purchase one BUT at the same time thought that it was a death trap.
Madeline LOVES to just be the kid who loves life and laughing. I am so proud of her. As we took a few more sessions and summer was approaching we thought it may be better for her to take more swimming sessions. So mommy took her on Saturdays and daddy took Dom to Karate. Madeline was the oldest in her class and lead it. It was a half an hour session and it was filled with 5 songs, ball playing, bubbles, kicking and scooping. The one song we sang was 'Humpty Dumpty' she just jumped in the pool and bobbed back up & said again. There was one time where mommy said '2' and she jumped. Went down to 4 feet and did not come back up for about 10 seconds. I grabbed her hands and then she kicked and came back up. During the rest of the class, i was trying to focus on her skills and just having fun. I am so proud of Madeline.
As we were swimming. Daddy & Dom took on Karate and he just killed it with now having 2 red stripes. Seven more black tips he can take his test to get his 'orange belt'. At the end of many sessions, they will play a game with the parents. One day I asked Mark how was class and he said that this session they asked for parents to partake the whole class. So everything the kids did the parents did too. Mark said it was not hard but his back was bothering him that morning and I felt bad. Glad to get parents involved though.
During our week & weekend sports. Its kinda getting nice out and all the kids in our neighborhood want to play. Kids come over and just play outside, come to our home and play too. I am so happy to see the friends Dominic is making. Lots of basketball, chalk, guns and star wars. Madeline runs with them and plays along. I am very happy to see that both kids are adjusting great to the new home and making friends.
Madeline is very caring like Dominic but independent and is not afraid to try new things. Very free spirited and feels that she has no boundaries. At school, since she has been potty trained she is the leader in her classroom. She is helping change diapers and showing kids how to use the potty. I am so proud of her. The teachers tell me she helps with clean up with snack, lunch and even after craft time. Maybe she'll be a teacher as she gets older. There is one classmate that she adores and his name is David. He is the sweetest little boy and they just hug and kiss all the time. One day we went to the Robey Park and he was there. You would hear them yell at each other and it was so sweet.
Some of the fun things Madeline has been up to is crafts and reading. She will paint, play playdoh, color, bubbles and stamp non stop. Anything with creativity shes all about. She is not one to play for 5 minutes and move on. Its about 30 minutes plus she is being in her creativity and I love it.
This winter we have been just waiting for the warm weather. In the new home, it does not matter the temps outside after school. The kids are out with gloves, mittens, and hats playing. MAN, I love this BUT I'm out there with them and its COLD ... haha. But it's worth seeing those booger faced smiles and laughter. We are just out there and really making memories with the kids. I am a PRO and 'come get me' and tagging 3 kids at once. I love to watch Dominic make new friends and be strong and confident. It is hard and not easy at times. Their are a few cry sessions but my being their and taking with him I feel helps a lot.
So Madeline is borderline ready for the toddler bed. She cradles the bar BUT only if you come in and she's been on time out. I am PRAYING we have a few more months because she will be the one where we need to secure all furniture to the wall. One time I walked into Madeline's room when she was on 'time out'. I walked in and she said 'mommy look at me'. She was straddling the bar of the bed and then got down. I don't think she would actually do it but just knowing she could bake me nervous.
We finally had a really nice weekend of warm weather where we were not busy and Dom didn't have Karate. We went to the Franklin Zoo. It was so much fund. The kids walked the whole time and did not fight. We got to the Zoo around 10:30 am and did not leave till almost 3. The Zoo is so kid friendly and has animals, zoo keepers and 70% of the stops to help educate the kids, rides and a gymboree area where the kids can explore.
Both kids really loved being independent and walking the park. Every time we go we always spend the most time in the gorilla exhibit. Just watching them playing and being interactive with each other is so fun to watch. We talk about each animal we see and what they eat and how they live. It really fun to hear their thoughts.
In Dominic's class one week a year they get to take one of their monkeys home for a week. Dominic took home Milton and it was so fun. Milton joined us for cook outs, reading books, sleep overs at Nana's and Bampas, puzzles and snuggles. It was a great visit and we all enjoyed him being an Ambrose for a week.
These are some fun pics.
We also took a trip to Imagine that in Lawarence MA. This place we have been to several times and only Madeline's 2nd time. It was a fun day filled with jumping in the jumpy house, played in the grocery store, dress up and in the play center. Dominic made friends right away and Madeline wanted to be with mommy and explore. We even decided to get artsy and paint. This was a lot of fun because we got pretty messy.
As you may not know my kids LOVE LOVE the Monarchs. Throughout the winter season we have been going to several games. The love the Mascot 'max the lion' and cheer him on. No matter what we are doing if we say hockey its breaking out in song...'Lets go monarch's" and we clap.
This was also 'Mothers Day'. I look at this day as one where my kids let me know what they think and feel. It was pretty cool and I really enjoyed all the fun surprises. I picked up the kids from school on Friday and Madeline made me a painted flower pot. It was very sweet and she was so excited for me to smell the paper flowers. Dominic had a bag full of goodies. He has a letter, flowers and a sweet coffee mug. 
